A photo of Marine Sergeant Wade D. Wilson is displayed for a ceremony to posthumously award him the Silver Star, the nation's third-highest medal for combat valor, at Camp Pendleton on Thursday. Wilson was killed in Helmand Province, Afghanistan on May 11, 2012. PAUL BERSEBACH, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 9

The 1st Marine Division Band plays during a ceremony to posthumously award Marine Sergeant Wade D. Wilson the Silver Star, the nation's third-highest medal for combat valor, at Camp Pendleton on Thursday. Wilson was killed in Helmand Province, Afghanistan on May 11, 2012. PAUL BERSEBACH, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

The family of Marine Sergeant Wade D. Wilson including Cindy Easterling, brothers Chad Wilson and Alex Wilson, Alex's wife Kandice Wilson and their six-month-old son Wade Wilson, from left, listen to speakers during a ceremony to posthumously award Marine Sergeant Wade D. Wilson the Silver Star, the nation's third-highest medal for combat valor, at Camp Pendleton on Thursday. Wilson was killed in Province, Afghanistan on May 11, 2012. PAUL BERSEBACH, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 9

Cindy Easterling, mother of Marine Sergeant Wade D. Wilson, holds his Silver Star award to her son following a ceremony at Camp Pendleton on Thursday. Wilson was posthumously awarded the Silver Star, the nation's third-highest medal for combat valor, for his actions in Helmand Province, Afghanistan on May 11, 2012. PAUL BERSEBACH, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 9

The family of Marine Sergeant Wade D. Wilson listens to a prayer during a ceremony to posthumously award Wilson the Silver Star at Camp Pendleton on Thursday. Wilson was awarded the Silver Star for his actions in Helmand Province, Afghanistan on May 11, 2012. PAUL BERSEBACH, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Capt. John Black, a former Marine platoon commander in Afghanistan now stationed at Camp Pendleton, recalls the day vividly.

He and the platoon were patrolling an unstable, remote area called Musa Qal'eh District in Helmand Province, looking to root out the insurgency and their associated weapons. As his armored vehicle drove up and out of a ravine, an improvised explosive device blew suddenly, directly beneath their truck. His fellow Marines inside were unscathed, but the truck was left inoperable.

Only then did the real trouble start, Black said. As the Marines were setting a security perimeter and settling in to wait for help, they noticed a man walking away through a nearby poppy field.

The man bent down below the waist-high poppies, Black said, and appeared to be going to the bathroom. But when he came back up, he had an AK-47 assault rifle in hand. The man just "kind of started spraying," Black said.

A Marine near Black's vehicle was hit several times, as others ducked for cover. That's when one Marine – Sgt. Wade "Willy" Wilson – jumped out of the vehicle with just a pistol in hand, and advanced, placing himself between the shooter and wounded Marine. Wilson was shot several times and eventually killed, but no other Marines died that day in the ambush.

Wilson was posthumously awarded a Silver Star at a Camp Pendleton ceremony Thursday morning, held at the 5th Marines Regiment parade deck. Col. Roger Turner presented the award to Wilson's mother, Cindy Easterling, along with several other members of his family who were in attendance. The Silver Star is the third-highest medal for combat valor.

Lt. Col. Tim Bairstow – like Wilson, a member of the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines -- spoke at the ceremony, and was part of the presentation of the Silver Star to Wilson's family. The Marine who was initially shot but survived was also in attendance.

"He charged headlong at that insurgent, undoubtedly saving lives of Marines behind him," Bairstow told the numerous friends, family, and fellow Marines gathered, about the May 11, 2012 incident. "He acted with courage that is hard to fathom."

Bairstow said Wilson was an exceptional Marine. He was promoted ahead of his peers on three different occasions, and was awaiting a fourth promotion. Wilson was on his third deployment to Afghanistan when he was killed.

He was a jokester and a prankster, Black said, but he would always get down to business quickly and was always calm under fire. "He was extremely proficient, extremely versatile," Black said. "He had an uncanny ability to relate to anybody."

Wilson, 22, grew up in Centerville, Texas, where he played football and ran track in high school, and helped his father operate a construction company in the summers. He liked mechanical work, and restoring old four-wheel drive vehicles, a Marine Corps press release said.

Lt. Col. Jason Perry took part in the same four-day Operation Oxbow, but in a different area.

"He was one of those Marines that came with a tremendous amount of experience," he said. "He's a proven warrior."

Perry explained that the Oxbow operation was intended to clear insurgents and several caches of weapons in Musa Qal'eh District. He said his fellow Marines knew well that this particular four-day operation would be dangerous.

When Perry received the call informing him of Wilson's death, he immediately knew who it was, despite the two having never worked directly together. He knew the loss of Wilson in particular would have an acute effect on the unit.

Wilson's selflessness that day is hardly imaginable for most, Perry said. Most people have instincts of self-preservation when they come under fire.

Lt. Chris Harper, who has served in the same region previously, added that Wilson's weapon – an M9 pistol – put him at a severe disadvantage when he stepped out and shot the man peppering his fellow Marines with an AK-47. He must've known such a gutsy move wouldn't end well, Harper said, but he did it anyway.

Black eventually fired the shot that killed the armed insurgent. But without Wilson's actions, more would've been killed, he said.

Black said he rushed to Wilson's aid but when he arrived, he knew immediately Wilson was dead.

Easterling, Wilson's mother, cried as Bailey presented her the Silver Star Thursday. Later, after the ceremony had wrapped up, she let forth a smile as her son's fellow Marines gathered around.

"Our only regret is that Sgt. Wilson is not walking out to receive this award in person," Bairstow said.

User Agreement

Keep it civil and stay on topic. No profanity, vulgarity, racial
slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about
tragedies will be blocked. By posting your comment, you agree to
allow Orange County Register Communications, Inc. the right to
republish your name and comment in additional Register publications
without any notification or payment.